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It’s been 50 years since 1963, the year the city of Birmingham, Ala.
became synonymous with the struggle of African Americans for
equality. But on March 15, the events of that spring came alive to a
group of about 85 Ingersoll Rand employees and their guests who
attended a talk by William A. Bell Sr., the current mayor of
Birmingham, hosted by Ingersoll Rand’s Black Employee Network (BEN)
Group. As a child Mayor Bell marched in Birmingham and heard the Rev.
Martin Luther King speak, so he was in a unique position to provide
perspective – past, present and future.

“It’s hard to imagine 1963 Birmingham, with its discrimination in
public transportation, education and career opportunities,” Bell told
the group, who had gathered in the company’s Trane District Office in
Atlanta, Ga. Bell said he was inspired as a young man by the actions
of Martin Luther King, who was jailed following the organized protests
for equality in the city, which was at that time, one of the country’s
most racially segregated cities.

Bell went on to live a storied life, in which he served on the
city’s council, became mayor in 2010, and enjoyed a friendship with
Birmingham native Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State.

“We must look fifty years forward and see who we can inspire
today,” he told the group. “Recognizing our past sets the platform to
give inspiration to others,” he said, noting that many nations still
struggle with basic human rights issues. He encouraged employees to
use every day and individual they meet as a learning opportunity, and
drew analogies between his experiences and the important role
diversity plays in successful business growth.

Bell was introduced by Alabama District Manager and BEN Sponsor
Steve Miclette, who talked briefly about the role Ingersoll Rand’s
Employee Resource Groups play in fostering inclusiveness corporate
wide that can create new business opportunities.

The Black Employee Network Group is one of Ingersoll Rand’s five
resource groups, which are part of the company’s goal to foster a
progressive, diverse and inclusive culture. Others are the Women’s
Network, the New Hire Employee Network, the Latino Employee Network
and the Veteran’s Employee Resource Group.

Ingersoll Rand is a diverse and inclusive environment. We are an
equal opportunity employer and are dedicated to hiring qualified
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